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FORMATTING

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SETTING UP YOUR ESSAY:

 

There are standard conventions for setting up and formatting an essay which you should respect:

 

  • The margins should be 1 inch all around.

  • The page numbers should be in the top right corner (in the 'top header'), next to your last name.

  • The essay must be typed, double-spaced and printed on one side of the page only.

  • The font you use must be plain and easy to read, for example Times or Arial.

  • The typeface must be 12 point in size.

  • Each new paragraph must be indented.

THE FIRST PAGE OF YOUR ESSAY (source: owl.perdue.edu)

  • Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested.

  • In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.

  • Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters.

  • Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking"

  • Double space between the title and the first line of the text.

  • Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number; number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor or other readers may ask that you omit last name/page number header on your first page. Always follow instructor guidelines.)

OTHER ESSAY CONVENTIONS:

 

When writing a literary essay, there are many little conventions that it is important to observe to maintain an academic tone and an effective writing style.

  • An essay should have a formal and scholarly tone.

 

To achieve this, you should not use any slang (e.g. guy, kid).

Do not use contractions, (e.g. don’t = do not; can’t = cannot; he’s = he is or he has). Although some instructors allow contractions, I do not!

 

  • Do not use the pronoun “I.”

 

Again, consensus on the use of pronouns varies but if you want to be safe with everyone, do not use “I.” Also, do not use “you.”

 

  • Do not use discriminatory language.

 

Whilst, of course, it is obvious that you would never insult someone based on their race, religion or ethnicity, you may accidentally discriminate on the basis of gender. For example, this occurs when you want to refer to the entire human race, and you use the pronoun “he” or the noun “man.” If you cannot rewrite your sentence to avoid this problem, or the words “humans” or “they” are not appropriate, you can avoid sexism by writing s/he or he/she.

 

  • Analyze in the simple present tense.

 

Anything you say about a text, as well as summaries or paraphrases of scenes or description should all be done in the present tense. (Occasionally, it will be unavoidable to go to the past tense when referring to actual events that happened in the past).

 

  • You should never preach or offer advice to your reader.

In other words, your essay is supposed to be as objective as possible. Therefore, you need to keep away as far as possible from subjectivity (personal opinion).

Essay Writing

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